United Mississippi Bank’s new full-service branch in New Roads further expands UMB’s reach into Louisiana. Working with Caroline Alberstadt of Alberstadt Lambert Design, the exterior and interior design of the 5,200 sf bank was inspired by the traditional French Creole architectural style of historic Pointe Coupee homes and buildings in order to create a feeling of home and familiarity for visitors.
A feature pigeonnier signals the entrance to the building complex from Main Street and patrons are welcomed by the building’s raised, deep front porch, flickering gas copper lanterns, and traditional French doors and windows. Natural materials such as slate tile on the roof, antique brick for walls and walking paths, and a color palette that references historic buildings, give the bank an authentic contextual presence— but it’s the details that draw you in.
Once inside the bank, limestone and rich wood floors, burnished brass fixtures, and cypress beams bring a comfortable elegance to the space. The barrel-vaulted ceiling in the lobby features a custom mural of a portion of Harold Fisk’s Meander Maps of the Mississippi River, which show the colorful overlays of New Roads' shifting bank over centuries.
The new building blends seamlessly with the beauty of New Roads while highlighting UMB’s commitment to the community and desire to continue the legacy of authentic Louisiana design.
